A federal appeals court has refused to overturn the $5 million jury verdict in the case brought by E. Jean Carroll against former President Donald Trump, thereby upholding a prior December 2023 decision. Carroll, 81, had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s and later defaming her via a 2022 Truth Social post. In May 2023, a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation (though not rape).
Trump sought a full‑court rehearing (en banc) to challenge the decision, arguing the trial included prejudicial evidence — notably the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape and testimony from two other women — which he claimed improperly influenced the jury. In an 8–2 vote, the appeals court declined to revisit the case, with two Trump‑appointed judges dissenting and criticizing the admitted “propensity” evidence.
Meanwhile, Trump is also appealing a separate $83.3 million defamation verdict in another Carroll case, asserting that a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity should protect him from civil liability. Carroll’s legal team has indicated she may also pursue further claims related to additional defamatory posts made by Trump after the verdicts.
JUST IN: The full bench of the NY-based 2nd Circuit Court of appeals has *denied* Donald Trump's appeal of E. Jean Carroll's win against him in court.
Supreme Court would be next/last stop. pic.twitter.com/FvJViFjepx
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) June 13, 2025
